Knowledge of Medical Certificate of Cause of Death amongst Doctors and Errors in Certification

Medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) is a vital document issued by a doctor for which World Health Organization has prescribed a standard format. There are many rules and regulations about filling and issuing this certificate. Accuracy in certifying the cause of death is desirable at many levels as it affects international health statistics.

1) To compare knowledge and awareness about rules, regulations, and format of medical certificate of cause of death amongst doctors. 2) To audit medical certificates of cause of death issued.

Cross sectional study hospital based carried out between September to December 2014.

Faculty members, residents, and interns attending the MCCD training session filled a pre structured, semi open ended, self-administered questionnaire. An audit of medical certificates of cause of death issued between September to December 2014 was done.

Data entered in Microsoft excel. SPSS 19.0 statistical software was used for analysis

Of 91 participants, 22% were from paediatric department, 35% had between 1–5 years of work experience. Statistically significant association was seen between department and knowledge of full form of MCCD, immediate & contributory cause of death, Form IV & IV A, & separate stillbirth form (p<0.05). Statistically significant association was found between work experience, uses of MCCD, immediate and antecedent cause and use of form IV and IVA (p<0.05). Of the 98 certificates reviewed 92% did not mention time interval. Only 7% certificates were free of error.

There is a need to adopt multi faceted approach to increase knowledge and awareness about rules, regulations of MCCD in doctors to improve accuracy and reliability of data.